Archery bow stabilizer having energy directors

Abstract

A bow stabilizer for an archery bow having a hollow body with at least one opening and forming a chamber. A plug is removably mounted within at least one opening. An element, which extends from the plug, has a fixed end portion contacting the plug and a free end portion positioned at a distance from the plug. At least a portion of the element is exposed within the chamber and at least a portion of the element converges in a direction from the fixed end portion to the free end portion. The elements provide a decrease in a vibration amplitude during a recoil cycle after an archery arrow is released from the archery bow.

We claim:  
     
       1. In a bow stabilizer for an archery bow, the bow stabilizer having a hollow body forming a chamber, the hollow body having at least one opening, and a plug closing at least a portion of the at least one opening, the improvement comprising: 
       an element extending from the plug, the element having a fixed end portion contacting the plug and a free end portion positioned at a distance from the plug, the element exposed within the chamber, and at least a portion of the element converging in a direction from the fixed end portion to the free end portion, wherein a distal surface of the element radially interferes with an inner surface of the plug.  
     
     
       2. In the bow stabilizer according to  claim 1  wherein the element comprises a longitudinal element axis which is coaxially aligned with a longitudinal chamber axis of the chamber. 
     
     
       3. In the bow stabilizer according to  claim 1  wherein the element is of a resiliently deformable material. 
     
     
       4. In the bow stabilizer according to  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the element has a conical shape. 
     
     
       5. In the bow stabilizer according to  claim 1  wherein a peripheral volume is defined between an exterior surface of the element and an internal surface of the hollow body. 
     
     
       6. In the bow stabilizer according to  claim 1  wherein the element is attached to an insert extending through a bore formed by the plug. 
     
     
       7. In the bow stabilizer according to  claim 6  wherein the insert comprises a shaft having a plurality of radially extending projections which interfere with a surface of the plug forming the bore. 
     
     
       8. In the bow stabilizer according to  claim 7  wherein each of the radially extending projections has a circumference greater than a circumference of the bore. 
     
     
       9. In the bow stabilizer according to  claim 8  wherein a circumference of the element is about equal to the circumference of each radially extending projection. 
     
     
       10. In the bow stabilizer according to  claim 1  wherein an outer surface of the plug has a first shape that corresponds to a second shape of the at least one opening. 
     
     
       11. In the bow stabilizer according to  claim 1  wherein the plug is of a resiliently deformable material. 
     
     
       12. In the bow stabilizer according to  claim 1  wherein a sealing device comprises an insert extending through a bore formed by the plug. 
     
     
       13. In the bow stabilizer according to  claim 12  wherein the insert is press-fitted within the plug. 
     
     
       14. In the bow stabilizer according to  claim 1  further comprising a second plug which at least partially closes a second opening in the hollow body. 
     
     
       15. In the bow stabilizer of  claim 14  wherein an insert is positioned within a bore formed by the second plug to contain a fill within the chamber. 
     
     
       16. In a bow stabilizer for an archery bow, the bow stabilizer having a hollow body forming a chamber, the chamber defining a longitudinal chamber axis and at least partially filled with at least one of a solid and a liquid, the hollow body having a first opening formed at a proximal end portion and a second opening formed at a distal end portion, a first plug mounted within the first opening and a second plug mounted within the second opening, the improvement comprising: 
       the first plug forming a first bore, a first insert positioned within the first bore, a first energy director connected to the first insert, at least a portion of the first energy director exposed within the chamber,  
       the second plug forming a second bore, a second insert positioned within the second bore, a second energy director connected to the second insert, at least a portion of the second energy director exposed within the chamber.  
     
     
       17. In the bow stabilizer according to  claim 16  wherein the first energy director comprises a first longitudinal element axis coaxially aligned with the longitudinal chamber axis. 
     
     
       18. In the bow stabilizer according to  claim 16  wherein the second energy director comprises a second longitudinal element axis coaxially aligned with the longitudinal chamber axis. 
     
     
       19. In the bow stabilizer according to  claim 16  wherein the first insert deforms at least a portion of the first plug and the second insert deforms at least a portion of the second plug to seal the chamber. 
     
     
       20. In the bow stabilizer according to  claim 16  wherein the first insert further comprises a second bore, in an area about the second bore the first insert having a plurality of internal threads for threaded engagement with a first end portion of a mounting stud. 
     
     
       21. In the bow stabilizer according to  claim 16  wherein a second end portion of the mounting stud is threadedly engageable with a threaded female coupling of the archery bow. 
     
     
       22. In the bow stabilizer according to  claim 16  wherein the second insert further comprises a flange which radially interferes with an exterior surface of the second plug. 
     
     
       23. In the bow stabilizer according to  claim 16  wherein at least one of the first element and the second element comprise an outer surface having a conical shape. 
     
     
       24. A bow stabilizer for an archery bow, the bow stabilizer comprising: 
       a hollow body forming a chamber, the hollow body having at least one opening;  
       a resiliently deformable plug, at least a portion of the plug positionable within the at least one opening and forming a bore;  
       an insert press-fitted within the bore formed by the plug; and  
       an element connected to the insert, the element having a fixed end portion contacting the plug and a free end portion positioned at a distance from the plug, the element at least partially exposed within the chamber, and at least a portion of the element converging in a direction from the fixed end portion to the free end portion.  
     
     
       25. In the bow stabilizer according to  claim 24  wherein the element is coaxially aligned with a longitudinal chamber axis. 
     
     
       26. In a bow stabilizer for an archery bow, the bow stabilizer having a hollow body forming a chamber, the hollow body having at least one opening, and a plug closing at least a portion of the at least one opening, the improvement comprising: 
       an element extending from the plug, the element having a fixed end portion contacting the plug and a free end portion positioned at a distance from the plug, the element exposed within the chamber, and at least a portion of the element converging in a direction from the fixed end portion to the free end portion, wherein the element is attached to an insert extending through a bore formed by the plug.  
     
     
       27. In a bow stabilizer for an archery bow, the bow stabilizer having a hollow body forming a chamber, the hollow body having at least one opening, and a plug closing at least a portion of the at least one opening, the improvement comprising: 
       an element extending from the plug, the element having a fixed end portion contacting the plug and a free end portion positioned at a distance from the plug, the element exposed within the chamber, and at least a portion of the element converging in a direction from the fixed end portion to the free end portion, wherein the element is attached to an insert comprising a shaft having a plurality of radially extending projections which interfere with a surface of the plug forming the bore.  
     
     
       28. In a bow stabilizer for an archery bow, the bow stabilizer having a hollow body forming a chamber, the hollow body having at least one opening, and a plug closing at least a portion of the at least one opening, the improvement comprising: 
       an element extending from the plug, the element having a fixed end portion contacting the plug and a free end portion positioned at a distance from the plug, the element exposed within the chamber, and at least a portion of the element converging in a direction from the fixed end portion to the free end portion; and  
       a second plug which at least partially closes a second opening in the hollow body wherein an insert is positioned within a bore formed by the second plug to contain a fill within the chamber.